FBC Missions

This email is being written(started) August 20th at 1230 pm in Maputo. The weather is predicted to be 75 degress today, although yesterday was 88 degrees. Corrine says the temperature is up and down a lot, primarily because of Maputo’s coastal location.

Saturday was a welcome relief as we grabbed our Meticais and headed to the Market of local vendors to shop for souvenirs.

It was quite interesting to see the crafted objects of wood, stone, shell, beads, bone, banana leaf and metals the team brought back.

The market is located next to Maputo’s 19th century Portuguese fort.
Jim and Corrine are seated on a cannon in the Courtyard.

Coconut trees in the courtyard.

On the other side you can see small fishing fleets in the small craft harbour in Maputo.

We did break into some small groups for different needs today. One group went to teach English. Some of the college age team went to Alto Mae to fellowship in music with some of the Mozambican young people. A separate group went out with their backpacks and brought back bottled water for all. Some hit the street to go to the market for lettuce, tomato, cumcubers, carrots and apples. All the fresh fruit and vegetables get a bath in chlorine water before we eat them.

Driveway repair (concrete mixing) was accomplished at the home of the couple, Roger and Lynn Schmidt (who are on furlow) where we a all staying. The home has three levels but there is another family that lives in the first level with a crawl space between the first and second floor. We are dwelling in the 2nd and 3rd levels (Jen at the dining table).

(Glass top on two drums)

Living room where we meet and eat.

Study where we BLOG and email.

The kitchen is very small and there is a “No Loitering” house rule. We all take turns in teams of 3 to do KP daily. Brooke has spent alot of time here preparing and serving the team.

Each level has 3 bedrooms and a bath. We are very fortunate to have access to such comfortable arrangements. The top floor, also a balcony ~ is very cool, breezy and relaxing, equipped with hammocks.

We celebrated another Birthday, Ben who is now 37! We had BBQ hamburgers, potatoe salad and cake.

Every evening we have a team meeting and devotion time after meal before dessert and coffee. It is a very special time of fellowship with one another. Also, a great time to worship the Lord and acknowledge all God is doing here and in each of our lives. Today (Sunday) we attended Pastor Anteiro’s church in Hulene. This is the place where we painted the sanctuary and Roger did a mural in the Baptismal.

This is also the community where we did the medical clinic. The service included a lot of singing and dancing. Our group sang a couple of songs too and we were applauded and cheered the African way~loudly. All the visitors were introduced, there was a small group from Brazil as well. The welcome song was sang for several minutes while we moved all over the sanctuary shaking hands and greeting one another. They do like to have visitors. Pastor Eric gave a word about the Good Samaritan (Luke chapter 10) Jim Thorpe interpreted to Portuguese and then one of the men also to to local language of many the Shangaana(sp?). The word was well received…one does not have to be rich or important to help others.

Hulene Baptist Church

-Greetings to all of our much appreciated prayer warriors and friends!

 Settling into a groove here has been a little interesting, but little by little we are more fully realizing how to fit into our own temporary niche among the ministries already present in this field. We have already made contacts with a number of folks in Rome that will be very important to us in making connections with other non believers, but there is still a long list of people to track down before we run out of time. Most all of the ministry is relational, as we are trying to open up opportunities to share with friends of friends. We want to amplify the influence of the Gospel within the spheres of inlfuence of our Italian brothers and sisters.  

The few days we have been here have been spent running to the open market down the street to pick up fruit, tracking down cell-phones, figuring out which buses to use in this new area, and other such necessary activities that don’t feel much like ministry. Saturday, we had the opportunity to attend an Italian, evanglelical wedding. What an experience! The ceremony started at 4:00 in the afternoon, and Daniel and I (Mark) assisted with the music, playing a number of songs including Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” All went well, and afterward we were treated to a four-star hotel dinner in Frascati, a hillside town south of Rome. Below we are pictured in the middle of the marathon dinner.

 I’m going to have to train hard before I attempt to eat that much again! The recepetion went into the wee small hours of the morning, and we awoke to attend our first (very sleepy) Sunday moring.

We are all well except for being a bit tired. Continue to pray for the Lord’s guidance in our lives and the plans we make, and that He may give us endurance as we fight the affects of jet-lag.

alla prossima,

Mark Maricle

One of the Volunteers bathing a child, every day they are bathed (about 200 orphans).

Part of the Orphanage “Cafeteria” about 600 come daily from the community for school and lunch.

Laundry day, washed by hand in a bucket or dishpan, no clothespins…They often iron everything to kill a worm that falls from the Mangoe trees and gets into the water.

The “Potty” Room where the children sit right after eating…usually until they go, sometimes falling asleep.

Jim teaching/singing at the Orphanage

Emily, Seth and Eric playing…

Roger and his little friend.

The Nursery

Eric M. and little Albertina

Boa Tarde Todos:

Good afternoon to all! The first week is flying by, we have all been very busy. Our team is feeling well and we are especially eating well. Corrine is a fantastic cook and Brooke(soux chef) is demonstrating a similar knack for producing wonderfully filling, healthy and sumptuous meals. We are drinking bottled water,taking our malaria meds, vitamins and prophyllactic Pepto Bismol. We celebrated Dana’s Birthday with a Brownie Cake too.

This week we have painted several rooms at Mother Teresa’s Orphanage “Casa da Alegria” (House of Joy). Wes, Ben, Roger, Naomi, Barb, Dana, Eric M., Seth and Eric have been the primary paint crew. However, I think everyone of us has picked up a brush or roller to help expedite the process. The medical team assessed many of the children and treated or made recommendations for treatment for many skin conditions and respiratory symptoms. The government does provide medication for chronic illness.

One month old twins, Berta and Pedro who’s mother died after childbirth.

In the community of Hulene we have painted the Sanctuary of Pastor Anteiro’s church. We’ve held a Medical clinic for all the last three days. The first hour was slow but by the second day we had screened enough familys to see patients for the next few days. We will complete seeing the one’s who have a “Papel” the medical record after screening by Stephanie with Ashley assisting interpretation. The patient is then further examined by Lisa with Corrine interpreting. At times it has been a difficult task to tell a patient that you suspect TB or worse, AIDS. Jen has been awesome with her makeshift pharmacy and dispensing the medications prescribed. The ladies prepared lunch of rice, chicken and “Sheima” (cornmeal paste).

A small group attended a Bible Study (College age) last night at an Apartment in the community of Alto Mae. Seth and Eric played guitars and led worship. Our hosts reciprocated with the Pastor leading on his guitar and a few lively worship tunes of their own which included rhythmic clapping and dancing. Emily shared a thought provoking message from Matthew regarding the use of our talents.

Today a group has begun construction project (new roof) and another group went to the Government run Orphange. We sang, danced and played with the children and then helped feed them their bowl of rice with vegetables and beans.

We did take a quick trip to the market last night for some fruitas and legumes and bought fresh roasted cashews (still warm). We also stopped to shop for some souvenirs in a little hut by the sea on our way home. The beautiful crafts and African treasures were created by local handicapped people for their living. The weather has been cool, sunny and breezy here (70’s) requiring sweaters and jackets at times.

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK THE BLOG FOR PICTURES:
http://www.fbceugenefamily.com/missions/index.php/category/mozambique-2006/

Roger, Wes and Jim assessing the Paint Job

Eric prepping for Painting

Naomi has a helper

Ben made getting the ceiling look easy.

The Sisters loved the new paint job!